#Point2Ponder: Is Freedom of Press Free?
Today’s #Point2Ponder:
NBC published an article calling Sheriff’s who defend the Constitution as “radical” and equated them with “domestic terrorists” and even implied they were just a bunch of racist white guys.
The headline reads: “Constitutional Sheriffs: The Cops Who Think the Government Is Our ‘Greatest Threat'”
Read the facts about this Sheriff: http://goo.gl/BHZGsA
Now Read the article by NBC: http://goo.gl/NWRV5S
I find that quite ironic. Why would a member of the press be mocking anyone for thinking that the “Government is our ‘greatest threat’?” The press relies on the very principles of Liberty for their industry and livelihood. Is there a greater threat Freedom of Press than government? Is there any OTHER threat to Freedom of Press than government?
Benjamin Franklin, writing as Silence Dogood, believed there was no greater threat to Freedom of Speech than the government.
“Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as publick Liberty, without Freedom of Speech; which is the Right of every Man, as far as by it, he does not hurt or controul the Right of another: And this is the only Check it ought to suffer, and the only Bounds it ought to know.
This sacred Privilege is so essential to free Goverments, that the Security of Property, and the Freedom of Speech always go together; and in those wretched Countries where a Man cannot call his Tongue his own, he can scarce call any Thing else his own. Whoever would overthrow the Liberty of a Nation, must begin by subduing the Freeness of Speech; a Thing terrible to Publick Traytors.” Benjamin Franklin, Silence Dogood, No. 8 Jul 9, 1722.
How ironic is it that NBC, or any #MSM, would assert that defending the #Constitution makes you a potential domestic terrorist. Has our media become so ignorant that they do not understand that their industry is dependent upon a limited government that recognizes the superiority of the Rights of the people? Has our media become so fearful of government that they no longer have independent thought? If so, then as Franklin predicted, Freedom of Speech is suppressed, public Liberty is oppressed, and Wisdom is dead.
The very sad thing is that history proves the fact that government is the only enemy to freedom of press. It is how the communist revolution took hold of the people. Look at Joseph Goebbels, and his Ministry of Truth. Even Franklin ties the tyranny of Charles I to the denial of freedom of speech and George III had control of the media when our founders were trying to encourage the American Colonists to stand for Liberty.
Ignorance is not bliss…it is slavery. How can the media be so blind to history and to reality that they would allow this vicious pied piper to lead them right off the cliff into government mandated silence?
Why should we care? If we do not have freedom of press, can we maintain freedom of speech? If we do not have freedom of press, can we actually peacefully assemble or petition for a redress of grievances? If the government takes complete control of the press with the permission of media, will any Liberty be secure? Remember Franklin warned, “This sacred Privilege is so essential to free Goverments, that the Security of Property, and the Freedom of Speech always go together; and in those wretched Countries where a Man cannot call his Tongue his own, he can scarce call any Thing else his own.” Liberty Does Really Matter.
“For no People will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when Knowledge is diffusd and Virtue is preservd. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauchd in their Manners, they will sink under their own Weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders.” Samuel Adams to James Warren 1775